Here are before and after photos of the reindeer display in Southwick that was vandalized.Richard Carbonneau photos

SOUTHWICK -- Police are seeking the public’s help as they attempt to find one or more saw-wielding "Grinches" who cut down two large wooden reindeer on a Granville Road lawn overnight on Saturday.

Richard Carbonneau said he woke up Sunday morning to find the bigger-than-life-sized reindeer on the ground -- each with two of their legs cut off.

“I have no idea,” Carbonneau said when asked why his display might have been targeted by vandals. “To me, it had to be planned because they had a saw to cut them.”

Police said they, too, are puzzled why anybody would want to target the reindeer, part of larger display on Carbonneau’s lawn, which is informally known in the neighborhood as the Southwick’s answer to Springfield’s Bright Lights display at Forest Park.

“I couldn’t even venture a guess why,” Lt. David Ricardi said.
The two reindeer are quite large. One, which has its head raised up, stands 16 feet tall and the other, which has its head down, is about 16 feet long. Both of them, made in Carbonneau's workshop require 5½ sheets of plywood to make and need three people to put them into place.

Carbonneau said he started displaying the tallest reindeer at his 162 Granville Road property three Christmases ago. The second reindeer joined the scene a year later.

Carbonneau said his son will come over on Tuesday and the two will see if they can get at least one of the reindeer back up on its hooves. “They have been really popular,” he said. “People stop by during the day and take pictures.”

Those with information are asked to call Southwick Police at (413) 569-5348.